Unearthed Arcana Why UA Psionics are never going to work in 5e.

[TheSword]

Sorcerers have magic juice flowing through them that they got from somewhere. When they cast spells they more or less do it exactly like wizards, with magical incantations, bat guano and precise gestures. They aren't smart enough to understand all that mumbo jumbo the way a wizard does, and unlike a cleric, druid, ranger, paladin, or warlock, no higher being or force has their back, so the reason it works for them is because of all that majic juice infusing them.

Psions are not infused with magic juice. They are just people who know how to do incredible things with their minds, like moving objects, reading thoughts, etc. No mumbo jumbo needed or desired. Just think it and it happens.

These are semantics, in the same way that a Divine Soul is different to a regular sorcerer.

All that is required is a line or two saying... “Some are not born with a gift but can learn to tap into mind, body and spirit through a method they call The Way. The powers they produce are called psionics and therefore they refer to themselves as psions or psionicists.”

There problem solved.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Sorcerers have magic juice flowing through them that they got from somewhere. When they cast spells they more or less do it exactly like wizards, with magical incantations, bat guano and precise gestures. They aren't smart enough to understand all that mumbo jumbo the way a wizard does, and unlike a cleric, druid, ranger, paladin, or warlock, no higher being or force has their back, so the reason it works for them is because of all that majic juice infusing them.

Psions are not infused with magic juice. They are just people who know how to do incredible things with their minds, like moving objects, reading thoughts, etc. No mumbo jumbo needed or desired. Just think it and it happens.

Pretty much every source for psionics has the power coming from somewhere. Whether it be the Force, a Mutant X gene, or the Vorlons medalling in human evolution. I don't think any source portrays it as a skill that just anyone can learn. A power that can be learned through study is wizard magic in D&D terms.

You can refluff magic juice as psychic juice, but psionicists have to get juice from somewhere.

 

[Aldarc]

These are semantics, in the same way that a Divine Soul is different to a regular sorcerer.

All that is required is a line or two saying... “Some are not born with a gift but can learn to tap into mind, body and spirit through a method they call The Way. The powers they produce are called psionics and therefore they refer to themselves as psions or psionicists.”

There problem solved.

Isn't semantics also saying that there is a difference between a sorcerer and wizard?

 

[Minigiant]

I believe the base D&D fluff for psionics is a "brain thing". Anybody with enough brainpower and the right brain can learn psionics. Brain power being a function of your ability scores: INT, WIS, CHA, and CON. This is the "wild talent". The random chance that your brain is just right to learn psionics.

This is what makes psionic classes feel different from sorcerers and wizards. The fluff in AD&D is that high INT race could all become psions if they don't delve into magic and "screw up" their brains with arcane and divine magic.

This also allows for the "evil psionic race" to kidnap people and surgically force their brains to be psionic. This is one reason why psionics can look too scientific. One can just kidnap a human village of peasants and in 200 years return with 2000 psionic soldiers. This is straight outta Sci Fi. However if you have the race fantasy race in your setting, it is just fantasy. Psi Knights and Githyanki instead of Paladins and specially bred warriors.

Sorcerers in D&D is more a "bloodline genetic" or fateful encounter theme.
Psionic classes in D&D is more a biological skill that can be manipulated.

 

[FlyingChihuahua]

Well, I was joking about elves and dwarves.

But, since you bring it up....no, GoT isn't. Most of it, anyway.

Well of course. I've ran into dragons going to the store, and I think some ice zombies moved in to my amparment complex a few months ago.

Nice people, actually, and their food was really good.

 

[Chaosmancer]

I believe the base D&D fluff for psionics is a "brain thing". Anybody with enough brainpower and the right brain can learn psionics. Brain power being a function of your ability scores: INT, WIS, CHA, and CON. This is the "wild talent". The random chance that your brain is just right to learn psionics.

This is what makes psionic classes feel different from sorcerers and wizards. The fluff in AD&D is that high INT race could all become psions if they don't delve into magic and "screw up" their brains with arcane and divine magic.

This also allows for the "evil psionic race" to kidnap people and surgically force their brains to be psionic. This is one reason why psionics can look too scientific. One can just kidnap a human village of peasants and in 200 years return with 2000 psionic soldiers. This is straight outta Sci Fi. However if you have the race fantasy race in your setting, it is just fantasy. Psi Knights and Githyanki instead of Paladins and specially bred warriors.

Sorcerers in D&D is more a "bloodline genetic" or fateful encounter theme.
Psionic classes in D&D is more a biological skill that can be manipulated.

Can do the same thing with magic. "Infusing people with magical essence" is a pretty common trope. Can look very scientific as well.

 

[Minigiant]

Can do the same thing with magic. "Infusing people with magical essence" is a pretty common trope. Can look very scientific as well.

It's a common trope. But not in D&D.
In D&D, you don't really infuse people with magic essence unless you are creating a warlock. An those powerful enough to do these are just under god-tier.
If you want an army of sorcerers, you need to play a dragon or genie to have naughty times with a whole brothel.

The only real time you see large groups of power infused people in D&D are gith and elan: both psionic.

 

[Chaosmancer]

It's a common trope. But not in D&D.
In D&D, you don't really infuse people with magic essence unless you are creating a warlock. An those powerful enough to do these are just under god-tier.
If you want an army of sorcerers, you need to play a dragon or genie to have naughty times with a whole brothel.

The only real time you see large groups of power infused people in D&D are gith and elan: both psionic.

Pretty sure some of that existed in older editions or in the novels. I'm remembering some sort of liquid power from one of the books.

But the trope is there and you can easily utilize it in a game.

Besides, Elan are fused with dream spirits (not science) and the Gith are a race, so they are born with it. And I think they got mutated from constant exposure to psychic energy, so no reason to assume you can't do the same thing with constant exposure to magic. Especially given High elves, Firbolgs, Snirvelben, and all the other races with innate magic.

 

[Aldarc]

Maybe once we have this enthralling debate, when can turn to debating how the Weave affects how we write the Wizard.

 

[Chaosmancer]

Maybe once we have this enthralling debate, when can turn to debating how the Weave affects how we write the Wizard.

How do you mean? (Typically I ignore the weave because it doesn't do anything I want for the game)